SummaryAnecdotal reports have suggested that reduced efficacy of pediculicides against Pediculus humanus capitis could be related to resistance to treatments.Ovicidal and pediculicidal activities of 0.5% malathion and 0.3% d-phenothrin lotions 'were tested in an experimental model of P humanus capitis grown on rabbits to ensure that the two treatments were pharmacologically equipotent. We then did a randomised controlled trial in which the lotions were administered to 193 P humanus capitisinfested schoolchildren (malathion, 95; d-phenothrin, 98). Success rate was defined as the absence of both live lice and viable nits. Before treatment, live lice were collected and subjected to a pediculicidal test. Pharmacological tests showed 100% killing of the rabbit-grown nits and lice after exposure to both pediculicides. On day 1 of the controlled trial, the success rate was 92% in the malathion group (95% CI, 0-86-0.97) and 40% in the d-phenothrin group (0.30-0.49) (pc0.0001); on day 7, it was 95% in the malathion group These results suggest an acquired resistance to d-phenothrin in the schoolchildren tested, since all other conditions of the administration of insecticides were standardised.

Les progrès accomplis depuis peu en chimiotaxonomie des Leishmania, permettent de déterminer et de classer sans difficulté excessive, les parasites isolés de patients, d'ani maux réservoir ou de vecteurs. Ainsi, grâce à cette tech nique, deux zymodèmes du complexe Leishmania infantum, (1, 2, 3). Au cours de l'été 1988, à l'occasion d'une enquête entomologique en grande Kabylie, nous avons pu isoler une souche appar MON-1 et MON-24, ont été identifiés dans le nord algé rien, chez l'Homme et le Chien

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A PCR enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) involving the use of bone marrow aspirates (BMA) and blood samples (BS) for the diagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) in human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients was developed with primers selected from the sequence of the small-subunit rRNA gene and compared with direct examination and in vitro cultivation. The PCR was optimized for routine diagnosis: processing of samples with lysis of erythrocytes without isolation of leukocytes, enzymatic prevention of contamination, internal control of the reaction, and ELISA testing in a microtitration plate hybridization. Of 79 samples (33 BMA and 46 BS) from 77 patients without VL, all the results were negative. Fifty-three samples (9 BMA and 44 BS) were obtained from 13 patients with VL: 6 samples drawn during anti-Leishmania treatment were negative whatever the technique used, and 47 samples (9 BMA and 38 BS) were positive with at least one technique. The sensitivities were 51% (24 of 47), 81% (38 of 47), and 98% (46 of 47) for direct examination, culture, and PCR, respectively. Thus, PCR ELISA is reliable for diagnosing VL in human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients, and blood sampling should be sufficient for the follow-up.

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